A Certain Manufacturer Is Interested in Evaluating Two Alternative Manufacturing

question 36

Multiple Choice

A certain manufacturer is interested in evaluating two alternative manufacturing plans consisting of different machine layouts. Because of union rules, hours of operation vary greatly for this particular manufacturer from one day to the next. Twenty-eight random working days were selected and each plan was monitored and the number of items produced each day was recorded. Some of the collected data is shown below: $$\begin{array} { c | c | c } \text { DAY } & \text { PLAN 1 OUTPUT } & \text { PLAN 2 OUTPUT } \\\hline 1 & 1234 \text { units } & 1311 \text { units } \\2 & 1355 \text { units } & 1366 \text { units } \\3 & 1300 \text { units } & 1289 \text { units }\end{array}$$ What type of analysis will best allow the manufacturer to determine which plan is more effective?

• A) A paired difference comparison of population means.
• B) An independent samples comparison of population proportions.
• C) A test of a single population proportion.
• D) An independent samples comparison of population means.

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Definitions:

Dependent Variables

Variables in a study that are expected to change or vary as a result of manipulations or treatments applied to independent variables.

Factorial Designs

Experimental designs that allow investigation of the effects of multiple factors (independent variables) and their interactions on one or more outcomes (dependent variables).

Real-world Conditions

Circumstances or situations that occur in everyday life outside of controlled or laboratory settings.

Independent Variables

Variables that are manipulated or changed in an experiment to observe their effects on dependent variables.